Body inside car down bank

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The car belonging to missing Waihi Beach woman Kelly Ann Sinclair has been found down a bank with a body inside.

But police have said they are unable to confirm who is in the vehicle until a formal identification is made.

Sinclair, 25, was reported missing on Tuesday after leaving home on Sunday to go to Mt Maunganui.

She was last seen leaving a friend's house in Katikati about 11.20pm on Sunday, and was described as in an emotional state.

Her Audi was found down a bank at Whakamarama, south of Katikati, on State Highway 2 apparently as the result of a road crash, police said.

The car appeared to have been heading north when it left the road.

Earlier yesterday, Senior Constable Bryce Cockerton, of Waihi Beach, said police had been searching Sinclair's bank records and had requested information from her cellphone provider in order to locate her.

Cockerton said she hadn't paid via eftpos or withdrawn money from an ATM since Sunday.

He understood she moved back to the Waihi area from Auckland about a year ago and was living with family who reported her missing on Tuesday afternoon.

Sinclair is described as 1.7 metres tall, 65kg to 70kg, and has long blonde hair shaved on one side.

Both her forearms are tattooed - the right features a birdcage and the left a bird.

A serious crash investigation is under way and police are keen to hear from anyone who saw the blue 1997 Audi A3 between late Sunday night and yesterday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tauranga police on 07 577 4300.